In recent years many commentators have stated that undergraduate
medical education needs to be radically altered to embrace the modern
day demands and needs of patients. The current medical curriculum is
still largely based the Flexner Report, which was published in the US
in 1910
1
. Abraham Flexnerâ s document, which ran to 364 pages, was
the first large scale attempt to standardise medical education. He
divided the curriculum into 2 years of basic sciences based in
universities, and 2 years of clinical training based in academic
medical hospitals. Medical education was changed from an
apprenticeship model to an academic model. Following publication of
his report, medical training became more centralised and small rural
medical schools were closed. In the new curriculum the emphasis was
on basic sciences and clinical experience. Over the ensuing 100
years, scientific medicine and discovery flourished. These
fundamental ideals have resulted in an overall consistent quality of
medical care. The reforms, instituted by Flexner, were one of the
factors that led to the doubling of human beingâ s lifespan during
the 20
th
century

In recent years many commentators have stated that undergraduate
medical education needs to be radically altered to embrace the modern
day demands and needs of patients. The current medical curriculum is
still largely based the Flexner Report, which was published in the US
in 1910
1
. Abraham Flexnerâ s document, which ran to 364 pages, was
the first large scale attempt to standardise medical education. He
divided the curriculum into 2 years of basic sciences based in
universities, and 2 years of clinical training based in academic
medical hospitals. Medical education was changed from an
apprenticeship model to an academic model. Following publication of
his report, medical training became more centralised and small rural
medical schools were closed. In the new curriculum the emphasis was
on basic sciences and clinical experience. Over the ensuing 100
years, scientific medicine and discovery flourished. These
fundamental ideals have resulted in an overall consistent quality of
medical care. The reforms, instituted by Flexner, were one of the
factors that led to the doubling of human beingâ s lifespan during
the 20
th
century

en

dc.language.iso

en

en

dc.publisher

Irish Medical Journal

en

dc.subject

MEDICAL EDUCATION

en

dc.title

Medical education for the 21st century

en

dc.type

Article

en

dc.identifier.journal

Irish Medical Journal

en

All Items in Lenus, The Irish Health Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.